The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-12-26

Wnen, Ior CnflstS sake, ana owing TO CnrlsI
influence. men remember that they are broth
ersf Is not this the time when mems
hearts are tender. when they are
old sores, to adjust old differences, to smooth
over those rough places that have hitherto made
them feel very uncomfortable, to meet friends
and neigh bors with glad couutenance, to make
home bright and cheerful. and to forgive others
as they hope to DO forgivenl To be a help to
others. and not a hindrance; to think of the
poor and needy. and to extend them timely aid;
to stand in such an attitude that one can say,
with an honest heart, Il wish peace and good Will
toward men" Is not this condition to be greatly
covetedf And is not this position which we
come nearer occupying at this season of the
year than at any other2 do not say that this
ought to be SO; only say what believe to be
true-that it is And If this state OF things
is not to be attributed to the fact that men are
moved thereto, consciously or uncousciously, by
reason of the Saviors advent then let others &C
lieve that the advent of Christ has exerteo and
is still exerting a wide influence in these direc-
tions; and that its influence may more and more
increase should be our earnest prayer.
But when we think OF the Influence exerted
by the Saviors advent we must think not only
of that influence which clusters around His
cradle but of that greater influence which Gus
ters around His cross. His whole life must be
taken into consideration-His teachings. His
sufferings His death, His resurrection and his
ascension to glory, His person and his work,
who He is, and what He is-all this must De
taken into account; and as we think or all TINS,
the influences which His advent has exerted IN
the world surely be in ten Thousand
directions. Childhood. youth, manhood, woman
hood-well may we say womanhood-have been
blessed by His advent. The Christian home. the
Christian church, Christian liberty, Christian
land. and all the advantages of Christian CIV
ilization are due TO his advent What mighty
revolutions He has wrought in the world. When
Jesus lay. infant, in the manger, Caesar was
on his throne. with legions at his command, and
the whole world lay at his feet but soon Cesar
fell and Christ swayeG the imperial scepter
Into the old bottles of effete civilization,
Jesus of Nazareth poured the new wine of a
divine life, and the bottles burst. and Christian
ity triumphed over Roman paganlsm
And what Jesus did then, He is
able to do, and He is doing to-day
The paganism of India and of Africa, and OF
China is harder to overcome than WAS the
paganIsn of the old empire, and Christianity IL
overcoming il. Very slowly, do you sayE Perhaps
so. But if it took Christianity three centuries
to overcome pagan Rome when the Church was
all alive. why should we now expect 1t TO con-
quer heathendom in less than century. when
the Church is half deadl But still. He IS march
ing to victory His influence 10 the world to-
day is greater than ever was before 1t Will
be greater next year andSne next century than
il is He will more and more govern mems
ideas and aspirations. until even the social and
political opinions and conduct of untold millions
will come under His benehcent sway. For, al
though the infdel may sheer and the skeptlc
may scoff, yet 1t must be confessed, even by
His foes that Jesus Christ is the mightiest and
hottest spiritual force that has ever been seen
felt IN this sinful world. lin Him the
Christian ages have seen the manifested God,
the eternal living in time; the infinite within
the limits of humanity; He is the worlds imper-
ishable wonder. and therefore the worlds ever
lasting problem. He Is a pre-eminent object of
human faith, and therefore q eminent sub
Ject of human thought
But what is this Savior with u.s. What inter
est have we In His advent and what influence
has it exerted over us2 Is He our Saviora Do
Him Christ, the Lord2 These
practical questions. For what matters it to us
that the angels sang at His BIRTH and that the
shepherds and the sages rejoiced at His coming
and paid Him their homage! What matters It
to us that His divine influence has been manifest
all through the ages. and that 1t will gather new
force until the end of time, If at last we be
found among His enemies and not among His
friends2 Jesus is, indeed, the only Savior, but
il must be remembered that He is the Savior
only of those W no believe in Him, of those who
repent of their SINS of those who love Him with
all their heart. Is this our easel Has His ad-
vent and His great work of redemption inter-
ested us and Influenced that we worship
and adore Him. and so that we are in very truth
His living disciplesl The angels who sang at
His birth still praise Him. and they will con-
tinue to praise Him for evermore The shep-
herds and the sages who His infant face,
and who paid unto Him their glad homage
when He lay in the manger. now, doubtless. see
His face in glory, and their worship
and alteration of Him will never
cease. That great multitude whom
man can number, whom He has redeemed with
His most precious blood, will count IL their chief
est Joy TO look into His holy face and to praise
His matchless grace forever and for evermore.
And when Christ's kingdom is fully come. and
when all the redeemed are gathered home, and
when the arches of heaven resound with ths
grand oratorio to the Messiah, may we to there
be swell the chorus, and TO bask forever IN the
sunshine of his love. Amen
Other Special Services.
Christmas exercises were held at the Second
large school was divided into two sections. and
,S.,1